Getting a bonded title in TX?

Alright here's my situation. I picked up a "clean title" SL650 for real cheap about a month ago. I didn't absolutely require that it had a clean title, but it was a nice bonus. I went ahead and got the ski, and they were gonna go through the proper channels to get ahold of the title. Not so clear I guess, eh?

Well I wanna put this thing on the water, and the previous owners are supposedly hitting a dead end. They say some company out in Kuhleefornia is working on getting ahold of it. In the meantime I've done some looking at other options, and I've found "bonded" titles.

Yeah, I know the history of the ski, and that is has no bad history. The previous owners bought it new, and then let it sit for the last few years. While it sat on the trailer, the title was lost.

I've got a new motor, rebuilt pump, and everything else replaced or rebuilt ready to go into this ski. I don't care what kind of title I end up with, I just want to be able to put this thing on the water.

if you are only the second owner for sure, the seller can get a replacement title. Was it in TX or CA that it was last registered?

Well supposedly it was gonna be no problem for them to get ahold of it, but last night I spoke when them on the phone and it was "Oh we're having to do this and that, and this company out in CA is working on getting the title."

According to it, to title and register a boat I'll need:
Vessel/Boat Application (PWD 143)
Pencil Tracing of Serial Numbers (PWD 504)
Bill of Sale OR Invoice
Affidavit of Fact (PWD 314)
Verification of No Record From Government

Really that doesn't sound too complicated. You can print those forms up off the website too. I wonder about that last one though, not familiar with that. But after gathering the proper documents, it seems like it wouldn't be too difficult, however I'm sure there's something in there to trip you up. It can't be that easy.

That sounds very similar to what I had to do to register a NJ ski that came without a transferrable registration. Notarized letter, a few forms, and a digital photo or tracing of the HIN.

I have found that if you don't get help from one DMV office, it pays to go to another, and even another. Some of the people there are strictly by the book, but others will work with you to get the ski registered. Never had a ski or bike I couldn't eventually register, and I've done it a dozen times! Mopeds, motorcycles from Canada, skis, whatever. It just takes patience.

If it was last registered in TX as you state, TPWD should have a record of the title or they could not have registered it. You do not have to have the original title. They get lost all of the time. You need to have the seller get a rep;acement title.